Both candidates for the 122nd district seat in Pennsylvania's House of Representatives agree that the state's property tax system needs to be addressed.

Republican incumbent Doyle Heffley stands firmly behind House Bill 76, which shifts from a property tax to a higher sales or income tax, while Democratic challenger Patti Borger wants to see the math before backing the plan."The bill would alleviate the tax burden off the property owners," Heffley said. The state Independent Fiscal Office has proven it would generate enough funds so that the shift would work. The other part of the equation is to control spending. We have done this at the local level by making sure school districts cannot raise taxes above the rate of inflation without a voter referendum. Taxing people out of their homes is not building up families."Borger said she isn't opposed to the House Bill 76, but wants to see more information."We have had a Republican governor, House and Senate," she said. "If they wanted to pass a bill, they could have done it. I'm questioning this because I don't know why they haven't passed it yet. I support any measure that would adequately address property taxes. I just haven't been in on the discussions in Harrisburg where they are doing the math."The issue is just one of the main topics brought up by voters heading into Tuesday's general election.Heffley, of Palmerton, was first elected in 2010, receiving 56.3 percent of the vote to defeat Democrat Justin Yaich. His re-election campaign was successful in 2012 when he claimed 59.1 percent of the vote to top Democrat Ronald Rabenold.Borger, of Lehighton, received the Democratic Party's nomination in 2014 after running unopposed in the primary election. She said her plans to run for office came about in January."I felt the community was being underserved by its current representation," said Borger, who owns and operates a tree farm in Mahoning Township with her husband, Kevin. "Working-class families are facing an uphill battle and people are being forced out of their homes. I will work very hard for the people of Carbon County every day. My decisions will be made based on needs of people of Carbon County."Heffley said if elected, he'd continue to lead in a way that is best for Carbon County."I just ask the voters to look at our record and what we have done so far," he said.According to the latest report from the Pennsylvania Department of State, the Committee to Elect Doyle Heffley has spent $13,410.64 in 2014, while the Friends of Patti Borger has spent $67,800.16. The latest report from Heffley's committee was filed in June, while Borger's committee filed its most recent report in October.PensionHand in hand with the property tax debate, especially when it comes to school funding, is the pension crisis.The state's pension system is currently underfunded by $50 billion, a problem both candidates said can't be pinned on the employee."Current state employees and retired state employees won't see any change to their benefits," Heffley said. "We want to shift to a hybrid plan for new hires only. That would save the state over $11 billion. I think it is risky to say we'll float a bond to pay down pension debt. Right now, we need to stop the bleeding."The state put $2.3 billion of its most recent budget toward pension payments.Unlike Heffley, Borger said a bond could be the only way out."Pensions for new employees need to be cut back," Borger said. "We have to pay the bill somehow, and a bond seems to be the best way to do it. Someone has to make the first move."Human ServicesBorger criticized the current administration for cutting funding to human services programs so they could give tax breaks to large corporations. Fixing the funding flaw, she said, could make sure those who need assistance, like drug addicts, get the rehabilitation they need."We haven't done much to address prescription drug abuse, which is one of the main tie-ins to heroin abuse," she said.Heffley said when he took office, there was only one prescription drug take-back box in Carbon County."Through grants and partnering with other groups and offices, we now have eight boxes located at police stations around the county where people can drop off their unwanted and unused prescription drugs," he said. "Lehighton and Jim Thorpe alone have collected over 16 pounds each of prescription drugs."One of the ways funding could be increased for senior citizens, Borger said, is to expand the state's lottery system."There are other lottery games that can be added to the existing lottery program," she said. "A lot of the lottery now is dedicated for senior use. I think there needs to be more."Estimates show over 18 percent of Carbon County's population is senior citizens.Heffley said he's been working to make sure when state dollars are allocated for social services, that the people who need them are actually getting them."I want to make sure we are cracking down on welfare fraud and abuse," he said. "I think it is ridiculous that people who come here illegally would qualify for welfare. They are stealing money from people who deserve it."He said the state had to backfill over $340 million in Medicare cuts from the federal government."If the federal government could create the perfect bill to destroy the middle class, it would be the Affordable Care Act," he said. "It has driven up the cost of health insurance, reduced benefits for seniors and has hurt businesses who can't afford the cost."While Heffley talked about Medicare, Borger criticized the current administration for rejecting the Medicaid expansion accepted by many other states.Calling the expansion a welfare plan, she said, is unacceptable and insulting."It is not a welfare plan, it is there to address the working poor," she said. "Uninsured people go to the hospital and they receive care. All of us taxpayers pay for that and at a much higher cost than it would be if the state would accept the Medicaid expansion. It is available with federal tax dollars, which we already paid for."Business and JobsIn 2010, the unemployment rate was 11 percent. Currently, it is 6.8 percent."That is still too high," said Heffley, who said he would continue to try to bring money back to Carbon County for businesses."One of the first grants we brought back was for Blue Mountain Health System, one of the largest employers in Carbon County," he said. "They were mandated by the Affordable Care Act to update their hardwire systems for electronic medical records. We secured over $700,000 in state grants to assist them. It enabled them to keep both their campuses open. Government needs to be able to provide opportunities for businesses to thrive."Borger said it's important to expand on the businesses already in Carbon County and strive for an educated workforce."Businesses don't want to come someplace where the workforce isn't ready for them," she said. "We no longer have the mining and the sewing mills. We need to look at the type of businesses that do thrive here."Borger referenced a former chicken farm just outside of Carbon County that raises embryos for the pharmaceutical industry to make vaccines."It's remarkable to take something we already had and reinvent it to make something desirable in today's business climate," she said. "This is the type of thing we can do in Carbon County."Education FundingEducation funding cuts, Borger said, have caused property taxes to be totally out of hand. She supports a 50/50 funding formula between the state and school district."The state's contribution has only been in the low-to-mid 30s for the past few years," she said. "Our children deserve the very best education we can give them. Carbon County schools should not be taking a back seat to any higher wealth districts throughout the state."Local schools have received over $18 million in funding increases over the past four years, according to Heffley."Right now we are spending $10.5 billion on education; that is a record level," he said. "Every school district in Carbon County has seen an increase. The biggest obstacle we have with education funding is the pension. We also need to make sure the dollars we are spending in education are being spent the best way."EnvironmentLocated near the hub of the coal mining industry, Carbon County fought its way out of polluted waters, Borger said, noting that she doesn't want to see the area fall victim to the "dangerous fracking practices" of the Marcellus Shale industry."The current administration touts Act 13, but it does not benefit the environment," she said. "It greatly benefits the industry. Here in Carbon County, we have all of the risk, but none of the benefit of the Marcellus Shale industry. The taxes they did pay benefit the communities they are in. We have nothing."She would like to see funding restored to the Department of Environmental Protection for oversight of the fracking industry."They need to be more accountable to the communities where they are doing business and the rest of the state," she said. "We all have the risk."Heffley, meanwhile, said Pennsylvania has some of the most stringent environmental laws of any state."I voted for Act 13, which is an impact fee," he said. "It deals directly with the impact fracking has on the environment. A severance tax will not deal at all with environmental impacts. It will actually take away the money going toward environmental protection. Thousands of dollars have come back to Carbon County in the form of grants for recreation areas, greenways and paths. The money is also being used to fund state game lands and to do improvement projects in parks. It is misleading to say gas companies are coming in with a blank check and doing whatever they want."Minimum WageHeffley said any increase to the minimum wage, which is currently $7.25, would have a negative effect on business."Any hike in minimum wage is a hike at every level for a wage increase," he said. "The higher minimum wage is, the less likely an employer is going to be to hire a high school student who needs that experience of having responsibility."He said the federal government's "failure to enforce immigration laws" also has an impact on wages."We have over 300,000 people here illegally," he said. "Many of them work under the table. Contractors who pay their employees above minimum wage and benefits can't compete for jobs with contractors who are paying illegal work forces under the table and no benefits."Borger did not shut the door on an increase to minimum wage, but she said it needs to be gradual."Local businesses don't want to hear that I support a gradual increase, but the reality is most of them are already paying above minimum wage," she said. "The majority of businesses who are truly paying minimum wage can afford to pay more. Low-wage earners spend every dollar they have because they have to. They will do the same thing if they have a slight increase in pay. It will be more money in our community because they will spend it."School Safety and Gun ControlHeffley has proposed legislation that would allow retired police officers to work part-time in schools as security guards."Security guards would be armed if they are trained through Act 120," he said. "I think there are pros and cons to school officials carrying guns in schools. It needs to be further vetted by the House. I know some school officials that are more capable than most to handle a firearm. I want to make sure public school students are safe. I don't know that arming every school teacher is the key."When looking at school shootings, Borger said, the shooter almost always is later found to have had a mental illness."Mental illness is shoved under carpet as an embarrassment, but these issues are real," Borger said. "Rather than place a stigma they should be dealt with earlier rather than later."She said she's comfortable with people having guns, but there is a problem when they get into the wrong hands."A lot of the mental issues with school shooters don't crop up overnight," she said. "We need to be more aware of the red flags and try to get individuals the help they need."Heffley said he is endorsed by the National Rifle Association and does support the right to carry firearms."We did pass legislation that if someone is not allowed to buy a gun in Pennsylvania, that information is turned over to the federal gun registry," Heffley said. "That wasn't happening in the past."Privatizing Liquor SalesBorger calls the liquor industry a moneymaker for the state, while Heffley said the current system of state stores is very restrictive."The state stores have proven they can do it," Borger said. "They are responsible people doing the job well. If we privatize it, the licenses are probably too expensive for mom and pop shops to buy, so they will go to the big box stores. The big box stores are most likely paying their workers minimum wage, and that increases the likelihood that person may sell alcohol to someone underage."Heffley said the state store system likes to say they turn a lot of money over to the general fund."They turn about $90 million over per year," he said. "They make $500 million each year. Beer distributors would have the ability to buy licenses if the sale of liquor was privatized. They have proven to be responsible sellers of alcohol."